Linnane’s Hut – Cradle Valley

In January 1908, Major Ron (RE) Smith, son of James “Philosopher” Smith, searched for an old hunter’s camp on the flank of Mount Kate. He wrote that Apparently the camp had been a hut, or a combination of hut and tent. The slabs of the skin drying chimney, which were of pine, were still mostly … Read moreLinnane’s Hut – Cradle Valley

150 year-old Secrets Preserved at the Waratah Reservoir

In mid 2021, we found one small reminder of the original dray track to the Mount Bischoff mine.  It was the faint, but definite, remains of an old bridge, just the approaches, a rotten beam and a few small pieces of timber driven with big iron spikes.  We were pretty excited considering is age.  It … Read more150 year-old Secrets Preserved at the Waratah Reservoir

The Port Davey & Gordon Track Junction

The Number Plate Tree We were looking for Damper Inn on the Gordon Track (read about that here).  It turned out that knowing the location of the junction of the Gordon Track and the Port Davey Track would help us find the old hut.  But the junction also had a history.   Originally it was … Read moreThe Port Davey & Gordon Track Junction

Dorset Dredge – the river eating machine

    We decided to visit the north-east in early 2019. That summer, the ‘tin province’ was the safest place in Tasmania.  The rest of state seemed to be threatened by fires.  Nic had a few things to show us.  Near Gladstone, Ian and I followed him along some old roads towards the Ringarooma River.  … Read moreDorset Dredge – the river eating machine

The Hercules heist: a lament for Thomas Goldie and the Mount Read Hotel

I hear the thresh of the spiteful hail, And I feel the lift of the wind beneath, The forward heave and the lightning lurch And the shuddering gasp like a living thing, As we crouched in the heel of the tempest’s grip High on the shoulder of Hamilton!1 – Marie EJ Pitt, ‘A West Coast … Read moreThe Hercules heist: a lament for Thomas Goldie and the Mount Read Hotel

The Colebrook Fiasco Part 4 – Who caused the fiasco and the failure?

The story so far It has been a few months since we posted about the Colebrook mine. We have told its story from the promise of a brilliant future to its reality as a sad memory.1 The Fiasco For years, the Colebrook Prospecting Association (the Association) had proclaimed that the mine was big, full of … Read moreThe Colebrook Fiasco Part 4 – Who caused the fiasco and the failure?

Following the Philosopher – The Mount Bischoff Dray Road

We didn’t find the old dray track on our first trip to the Waratah Dam. Our consolation prize was a very old timber tramway and bridge. They were pretty interesting. Searching in the forest had been easy. It had an open understorey and it was relatively undisturbed by later activity.  Old things like a 150 … Read moreFollowing the Philosopher – The Mount Bischoff Dray Road

A bridge under troubled waters – Waratah Dam

Waratah Dam has been getting a lot of press in the last few years.  TasWater wants to drain it.1 They are worried that the dam wall will fail and flood Waratah. The local community wants the dam kept. They like it for fishing, as a tourist attraction, for its history and many other things.2 The … Read moreA bridge under troubled waters – Waratah Dam

Rediscovering Bell’s copper mine on the upper Mersey

Mineral prospectors were not defined only by their successes. Their failures were necessary learning experiences. Mining is a fickle business, with success depending not only on the presence of a rich and enduring ore body but other factors such as market prices, accessibility and, sometimes, the public imagination. Lincolnshire-born prospector WR (William Robert) Bell (1830–1911) … Read moreRediscovering Bell’s copper mine on the upper Mersey

The search for the Fossey flume – part 2

This search happened years ago but it is never too late to talk about an interesting but forgotten piece of history.  Without knowing it, Nic started the search for the Fossey flume when he sent two pictures to Ian. He was hooked straight-away.  They were sections of a flume, part of the extensive water system … Read moreThe search for the Fossey flume – part 2